The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill was a short while ago accepted from the South African Parliament and is particularly now just waiting being signed into legislation because of the President.
The Act will introduce considerable modifications into the South African Schools Act plus the Employment of Educators Act to better align with modern instructional needs and problems.
Crucial provisions on the BELA Bill involve:
Compulsory Grade R: The Bill can make it required for youngsters to get started on school at Grade R, with formal penalties for folks who fail to enroll their small children.
Corporal Punishment: The Bill reinforces the ban on corporal punishment and prohibits other types of punishment that could belittle learners.
Language Policy: School governing bodies (SGBs) will continue to determine the language policy of schools, but these policies must be approved by the head of the education department. This aims to ensure that language policies do not discriminate and are inclusive.
Learner Pregnancy: Contrary to some public misconceptions, the Bill does not give schools control over a learner’s decision regarding abortion. It more info does, however, address the management of learner pregnancies in schools.